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Saturday, 29 November 2014

Live Review: RanestRane / Steve Rothery. Band On The Wall, Manchester, UK. 6/11/14

“I
used to be a Marillion fan.” There, I’ve said it. I loved the early
80’s Marillion with which Steve Rothery was a founder member and with whom he
is still the guitarist. I never really got to grips with the Steve
Hogarth era, preferring the cutting dynamic of the Fish led band. But I
am not here to reminisce, although I did later on.

Opening
were Italian proggers RanestRane, delivering their cinematic prog-rock
experience “A Space Odyssey”. Inspired by the film “2001: A Space
Odyssey”, which drummer Daniele Pomo describes as “the most important film ever
made”, they proceeded over the next 45 minutes to perform this, with
projections from the film, all timed to perfection. This does give
the film a new direction although I have to admit I found myself concentrating
on the projection and not the music. A consequence of which has made me
want to watch the film again, probably not what RanestRane were hoping
for.

During
the break the guy next to me starts talking: “I’ve seen Marillion 12
times, they are fantastic and I don’t care what other people say.” He
obviously saw me making notes, was I wasting my time reviewing the gig?
The guy next to him says “I’ve seen them 21 times.” He is wearing a Marillion Fan
Convention t-shirt. I look around and many of the crowd are wearing
similar t-shirts from different conventions. It’s a strange crowd:
Marillion-spotters and anoraks. Fortunately
the break is short.

For
those who are unaware of Steve Rothery, he is hailed as a master
guitarist. Not for Yngwie/Vai speed but for the warmth and tone in his
playing, in a similar vein to David Gilmour of Pink Floyd to whom he is often
compared. The first half of Rothery’s set is a performance of his first
solo studio album, “The Ghosts Of Pripyat”, interestingly a crowdfunded
project. Rothery had previously been asked by record companies in the
80’s and 90’s to record one but there had always been the clash with his day
job in Marillion.

These
were beautifully balanced pieces of music, carefully crafted and
executed. So different to Marillion in some ways, but comfortably
familiar in others. The stand outs were “Old Man of the Sea” and the
poignant “Yesterdays Hero” although there wasn’t a bad moment in this part of
the set.

Another
short break and the band returned for the second half of Rothery’s performance
of older Marillion songs. His choices based on his favourite guitar
solos, much to the delight of most of the crowd who yearn to hear these older
songs. The band is now supplemented with singer Martin Jakubski, from
tribute band StillMarillion, who uncannily sounds just like Fish. A
Marillion anoraks wet dream? Quite possibly.

I
had escaped the talker and moved next to the mixing desk, having photographed
the band during the first three songs. In front of me was someone ‘dad
dancing’ and showing off to his mate that he knew every word to every
song. Sing-a-long Marillion perhaps?

“Cinderella
Search” started well, Jakubski handling his Fish vocals perfectly. But,
being able to adapt to the Steve Hogarth era song “Afraid Of Sunlight” was a
surprise and was probably the best performance by Rothery and his band, turning
it into a powerful masterpiece and ended up being my favourite song of the
evening. “Incubus” was thankfully without the embarrassing Fish polaroid
introduction but the dad-dancer became visibly over excited whilst singing
along “…Nursing an erection, a misplaced reaction…”. Some people need to
get out more, or was I now suffering from Marillion-fan-aphobia? I
decided to move again.

“Chelsea Monday” was its
usual mournful self and left me reminiscing of pre-record contract Marillion,
who I saw many times, Jakubski once again nailing the vocals. I had to
pinch myself during “Fugazi”, again the vocals so Fish-like.
Rothery’s guitar remained masterful but adaptable to ensure the solos were not
direct copies of the originals but still fitting in perfectly. Although a
Steve Rothery gig, the empashis was most definitely on the band as a whole to
deliver these sterling performances, Rothery quietly getting on with his subtle
guitar playing.

The
encore of “Lavender/Heart Of Lothian” was a more relaxed yet buoyant affair, a
fine way to end the gig. I left bang on the last note in fear of an
onslaught from some of the crowd, wanting to force a convention t-shirt in my
direction!

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